Category Archive: Avoiding Probate
- Dec. 10 2019
Beneficiary Designations – An Often Overlooked Part of Estate Planning
Creating a Wisconsin revocable trust or will is not the final step in the estate planning process. Beneficiary designations – naming who will receive which assets – is a must do second step of the estate planning process. Often, a … Read more
- Jul. 18 2019
Estate Planning Elder Law Attorney: When to Contact?
As estate planning attorneys, we understand that knowing when to contact an estate planning elder law attorney is difficult to predict. Most people don’t know the answer. Admittedly, sometimes it can be clear when you need an estate planning elder … Read more
- May. 15 2019
Simple Will: Often Not Adequate Estate Planning
As estate planning lawyers, we often have clients contacting us for a “simple” Last Will and Testament. Sometimes a “simple will” can accomplish our clients’ goals. More frequently however, a simple will alone is not adequate estate planning to achieve … Read more
- Jun. 21 2018
Wisconsin Marital Property Law
Wisconsin marital property law, or more formally Wisconsin Marital Property Code, sets out who owns what in marriage. The law can automatically classify property owned by married couples living in Wisconsin as the “marital property” of both of them. It … Read more
- Mar. 23 2018
Avoiding Probate: Definitions and Key Reasons
Many of our clients name avoiding probate as a key goal when requesting our assistance in preparing a well crafted estate plan. At Wokwicz Law Offices, we have decades of experience navigating our clients around probate. A Brief Overview of … Read more
- Aug. 22 2017
Wisconsin’s Transfer on Death Deed
Wisconsin’s Transfer on Death Deed (TOD Deed) allows for the non-probate transfer of real property upon death. This seemingly simple law, Wisconsin Statute 705.15, can be used as a powerful estate planning tool, in the right circumstances. However, when not … Read more
- Nov. 30 2016
Estate Plan Review: When Do I Need One?
As estate planning lawyers, we are regularly asked “When do I need to do an estate plan review?” When we draft an estate plan for a client, we attempt to draft with an eye towards the future so that frequent … Read more
- Nov. 1 2016
Marital Property Agreement: Funding a Revocable Trust Without Probate
In Wisconsin,a marital property agreement enables married couples to fund a trust at death while avoiding the need for probate. Unfortunately, this entitlement applies only to married people as it is part of Wisconsin’s Marital Property Code. Nonetheless, it offers a powerful estate … Read more
- Jun. 28 2016
A Last Will and Testament Does Not Avoid Probate
A Last Will and Testament (will) is a great first step for an estate plan and is often one key part of a quality estate plan. However, a will alone does not avoid probate. Common Misconception As estate planning attorneys, one … Read more
- Jun. 9 2016
Procrastination and Estate Planning
Estate Planning is not a topic that most of us like to think about. After all, who really wants to think about disability, incompetence or dying? Yet the reality is that an estate plan will be used and will be needed … Read more